Tropical Biodiversity and Food Security
Zerega, Nyree, J.C. .
Conservation Genetics of Breadfruit, Artocarpus altilis.
Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a traditional staple crop in Oceania where it has been cultivated and improved upon by human selection for millennia and today hundreds of cultivars exist. Over the past few centuries a small percentage of breadfruit diversity has been introduced throughout much of the tropics and it is widely cultivated. The entire tree can be utilized by humans, but it is primarily grown for its fruits. As seeds are recalcitrant and cannot be stored long term and most cultivars are seedless, breadfruit germplasm collections are typically maintained as living trees. The largest collection is located at the Breadfruit Institute in Hawaii. Previous genetic characterization of the collection utilized isozymes and AFLPs and revealed information about genetic diversity, wild progenitor species, and the general trajectory of human-mediated dispersal of breadfruit throughout Oceania. Current work focuses on the use of microsatellites to uniquely identify cultivars, characterize genetic diversity to inform conservation decisions, and further refine our understanding of breadfruit origins.
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1 - Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden, Plant Biology and Conservation, 2205 Tech Drive, Hogan 2-144, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Date: Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
Time: 9:45 AM